I last judged the breed four years ago at WELKS 2007 and strangely enough one of my concerns cropped up again; that of exhibits being overweight. I found coats – colour, texture and length – very good, nice short harsh jackets with few soft flowing coats. Sadly, I endorse the comments made by Kathy Stewart in her N of E critique of dirty teeth and quite a few shallow under jaws, but the latter is an old chestnut of mine, (Keeshonds should have a chin and those two features don’t go together!). My main concern, however, was the number of exhibits that were overweight and presented in soft flabby condition. Movement has never been a strong point in our breed, but it can be greatly improved by plenty of road work to develop good muscle tone, especially in the second thigh and moving the exhibit at the correct pace is of paramount importance. I was also extremely disappointed with the poor standard of ringcraft within our breed. ‘Bait’ is used as a reward for a previously trained stance or action, not as a non-stop ‘pocket picnic’ to distract the exhibit from intriguing ring smells! I had to ask several exhibitors to actually stop feeding their dogs so I could make a full appraisal! As to breed type, it is just so diverse that I can understand why all-rounder judges are completely bemused!

Veteran D 1 (1)

Puppy D 3 (1). 1. Pattison’s Eastkees Don’t Say A Word. Lovely puppy of 11 months old – who could well have come home with me! Masculine, well balanced head, with real happy Kees expression shining from those sparkling oblique eyes. Neat ears, well placed and used. Good lay of shoulder, well sprung ribcage, short coupled body of good substance throughout. Profuse coat of correct texture and clear colour with tightly curled high set tail. Good turn of stifle and well let down hocks. Could have moved with drive and purpose if his owner had put in more effort. BP 2. Hill’s Plymkees Cool Dude. Bigger lad than one and very different type. Just hope he doesn’t grow any more. Well balanced head with dark eye and clear facial markings. Expression slightly spoilt by rather large ears, but I think he has cast his puppy coat which would have given him the ruff to soften these. Longer in body than 1. with deep chest, good bone and hind angulation. Seemed rather unsettled on the move and not co-operating with his handler.

JUNIOR D 1. 1. Wadmore-Smith’s Hunnivoles Woody Valentine. Most attractive youngster presenting a really compact outline. Beautiful, well balanced head with nice width across the cheeks and good stop. Alert expression with twinkling dark eyes and neat ears. Good lay of shoulder but slightly more length of upper arm would have improved reach of neck. Good deep body, well ribbed up with short back and coupling. High set tail, good turn of stifle and real cat feet. Profuse coat of good colour and texture, but lacking undercoat. Moved well in front, but rather close behind.

POST GRADUATE D 4 (3). 1. Elliott’s Neradmik Boss At Fletilla. Smaller dog with pleasing well balanced head and facial markings, could have done with just a little more depth of under jaw. Nice expression – when he decided to use his ears! Compact outline, with good front assembly, short back, high set tail and short hocks. Presented in full coat of clear colour and markings. Really full of the joys today, making his movement rather erratic and giving his handler quite a hard time!

LIMIT D 1. Hopkins’ Helkeesen Regal Surfer Among Serenaubach. Smaller dog, presenting a compact outline. Head with good width of skull but would have liked more width of muzzle to balance and deeper under jaw. Clear facial markings, alert mischievous expression, neat ears and nice reach of neck. Good front assembly, short back and high set tightly curled tail. Well angulated hind quarters with good bone and neat feet. Moved well when he did get into stride, but rather unsettled on the move and not co-operating with his handler.

OPEN D 4 (1)
1. Miles’ & Cullen’s Am. Ch. Kemonts Skyline’s Game Boy. Well this was my surprise of the day! What a beautiful Keeshond. Lovely well balanced head with good stop, dark oblique well placed eyes and an expression to die for! Excellent lay of shoulder giving good reach of neck. Deep well ribbed up body with short back. Good hind angulation, nice short hocks and real cat feet. Moved cleanly with drive both fore and aft. Presented in full coat of correct texture and good colour with clear markings. Completely at one with his handler making a lovely partnership. Delighted to award him his fourth CC with BOB. 2. Day’s Ch. Allforus Dice Master for Spitzcav. I was surprised to see that when I last judged the breed he won PD class – he has certainly added many more wins since then! Smaller than 1. and of different type. Strong masculine head, nicely balanced with good facial markings, dark eyes and neat ears. Good lay of shoulder, deep well sprung body of substance, short coupled with good hind angulation and short hocks. Well presented with full coat of correct texture and colour Did not seem settled on the move and lacked steady drive in hind movement. RCC. 3. Brunt’s Dream Machine

VETERAN B 1. 1. Bell’s Ch. Allforus Magic ‘N Ice .What a fantastic Veteran, unbelievable that she is 11 years young. Pretty feminine head, with lovely dark sparkling eyes, neat ears, good clear facial markings and full dentition. Well constructed throughout with good reach of neck, short back and high set tail. Presented in real hard condition, in full coat of good texture and lovely colour. Absolutely on her toes, moved well and showed her socks off. A real credit to her owner. BV

PUPPY B 1. 1. Hopkins’ Torrikees Shakira Among Sarenbauch. Pleasing head, with dark eyes, good facial markings sweet expression, but not using her ears to advantage. Good shoulder placement and reach of neck, short back and high set tail. Shown in full coat of lovely colour. Not giving of her best and did not move to advantage either fore or aft – another one giving her handler a hard time!

JUNIOR B 6 (2). 1. Austin’s Chotahkees Truly Georgeous. What a brave breeder to give a puppy a name like that, but she certainly lived up to it! A really feminine little lady just oozing quality. Pretty well balanced head, good facial markings, dark eye and neat well placed and used ears. Real cheeky expression. Excellent front assembly giving good straight front and lovely reach of neck. Nice topline, well sprung rib cage, short coupled body with high set well plumed tailed. Presented in full coat of lovely colour and markings. Once settled, moved true both ends and covered her ground well. Completely at one with her handler and showed her heart out. Delighted to award her first CC. 2. Saunders’ Liefkees Annabell. Bigger bitch than one and more of the old fashioned type. Lovely balanced head, with good stop, dark well placed eyes, good facial markings. Ears a little larger, but in proportion, well set and used. Excellent construction throughout, a little longer in back than 1, high set tail. Well turned stifle, good bone and neat feet. Nicely presented in full coat of correct colour and texture. Strode out well and covered her ground with ease. 3. Newman’s Leazehond Moondust Cascade

POSTGRADUATE B 8 (3). 1. Henman & Peterson’s Foxifayre Pretty Woman. Smaller bitch, but so very feminine. Really pretty head, with sweet expression, dark eyes and neat ears. Good reach of neck leading into correct front assembly, well ribbed up and short coupled body with high set tail. Good bone and neat feat. Moved a little wide in front but better behind. Unfortunately, she had left her party dress at home! 2. Harrison’s Helkeesen Surfin Kimono. Bigger bitch than 1 and a very different type. Well balanced but plainer head, could have had a slightly darker eye, attentive expression using her well placed ears the whole time. Super reach of neck leading into good lay of shoulder and nice length of upper arm. A little longer in back, well ribbed up body of substance and high set tail. Presented in full coat of lovely colour and in the hardest condition of the whole entry. Moved a little wide in front but well behind. It was a delight to see the relationship between her and her handler. 3. Austin’s Chotahkees Enchantress

LIMIT B 8 (3). 1. Brunt’s Whats in a Dream. This delightful little bitch really pushed my CC winner hard. Presenting a lovely compact outline with pretty head with good skull/muzzle balance, a real Kees expression, dark eyes and those so rare thick ears. Good front assembly giving lovely reach of neck. Short back, good rib cage, high set tail, good bone and tight feet. In full coat of correct texture, good colour and clear markings. Hind movement let her down and her handler needs to work on this with lots of road work, then I am sure she will get that top spot. RCC. 2. Sharp-Bale Neradmik Balodora Lady D’Winter. Beautifully shown and presented as one would expect from Graham Truelove. Again a completely different type to 1. Larger bitch with strong well balanced head, correct mouth, clear facial markings, dark eye and well placed and used ears. Good lay of shoulder and length of upper arm, well sprung rib cage, short coupled body with high set tail. Good bone and tight feet. Profuse slightly longer coat, correct texture and clear markings. Moved well both fore and aft. Never stopped showing and gave her handler everything he asked for. 3. Newman’s Leazehone Maddy Moonlight

OPEN B 6 (3). 1. Bell’s Allforus Tumbling Dice who certainly told me she was in the ring! Pretty well balanced head, clear facial markings, cheeky expression and nice dark oblique eyes. Well placed and used ears. Nice reach of neck leading into sound front assembly, well ribbed up short coupled body in hard condition. Good turn of stifle, good bone and tight feet. Coat of correct texture, good colour and clear markings, but could perhaps have done with a little more ruff. Moved and showed well. 2. Austin’s Ch. Valindale Darling Girl for Chotahkees. Again different type from 1. Mature bitch with well balanced head, but rather lacking in facial markings. Flat skull, dark eyes and well placed ears. Super reach of neck running into well laid shoulder. A little longer in back than 1, body of substance with good spring of rib. Good bone and neat feat. Full coat of good colour and texture. Moved well and showed her socks off. Dam of my CC winner and what a family resemblance! 3. Wilding’s Swashway Stage Struck

BREEDERS: Bell’s – Allforus. Closely related and well matched team – shame about the handlers!